Physically challenged war veterans arrived in the city of Voronezh in the south of Russia to show local youth that a disability is no obstacle to leading a full live and achieving athletic success.

The sports festival on Tuesday was staged as part of an annual
“Strong in spirit – 2015” marathon, spanning several Russian
cities, including Moscow, in May and June.

As part of the event, veterans with amputated limbs amazed the
crowd with their fitness, performing bench presses, weight
lifting, acrobatics and even playing table tennis.

They also conducted sports education classes for youngsters,
explaining how to handle equipment safely and perform
strength-building and acrobatic exercises.

“It’s not only a patriotic action; the main goal is to change
public attitudes towards people with disabilities. A barrier-free
environment still remains a dream. But in the last couple of
years, a lot has been done: there are ramps in special
institutions, the ability to get to some events. And we’ll
continue this work,” Anna Tsaralunga, local MP, told the
Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.

OOOIVA, an organization for veterans with debilitating injuries,
which staged the event, dedicated this year’s marathon to the
70th anniversary of the victory in World War II.

Most of veterans, taking part in the sport festival, received
their injuries during the USSR’s war in Afghanistan in 1979
–1989.